Vaporizer for water pipe inlet

ABSTRACT

The vaporizer assembly includes a nail sub-assembly formed of a high rate of heat transfer material and an adapter assembly formed of a lower rate of heat transfer material. The nail sub-assembly includes a bowl at an upper end and a shaft extending down from the bowl. The shaft has a hollow bore passing therethrough. The nail sub-assembly is preferably formed of a titanium alloy which can be heated to high temperatures without damage thereto. The adapter has a hollow core sized to receive the shaft of the nail therein. The nail is preferably threaded along with portions of the adapter to facilitate height adjustability of the nail relative to the adapter. Lower portions of the adapter are configured to mate with a water pipe inlet tube or other downstream vapor handling device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/653,651 filed on Oct. 17, 2012, which claims benefit under Title 35,United States Code § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/687,916 filed on May 2, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following invention relates to vaporizers which utilize high heat totake solid or liquid materials and convert them at least partially intoa gas, such as for inhalation by a user. More particularly, thisinvention relates to vaporizers which can be attached to a water pipeinlet or to a nebulizer or other equipment designed for inhalation ofvapors produced thereby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Atomization/vaporization of substances is well known for aromatherapy,respiratory therapy, or for smoking activities. While combustion of asolid or liquid substance is one method for production of gas/vapors forinhalation, non-combustion or limited combustion vaporization is alsoknown. This is accomplished though the heating of a selected substanceto a temperature at which it undergoes phase change into a gas with nochemical reaction or with different chemical reactions than the basicoxidation/decomposition of hydrocarbon substances into CO₂ and water.One known way to so vaporize a substance is to heat a tool until it isof the desired temperature, and then removing it from a heat sourcebefore introducing the material which is to be atomized/vaporized. Thisprocess allows the material to go though a phase change, calledatomization/vaporization instead of being combusted through ignition.Substantial research has established that the atomization/vaporizationprocess is a much healthier, cleaner alternative to combustion.

This invention is intended for any use, limited only by the user'simagination, but its main purpose is for the process ofatomization/vaporization of materials. As stated in other patents andshown by the large demand for personal atomizers/vaporizers, there is todate a shortage of well-engineered personal atomizers/vaporizers whichare simple to understand and use. Even though there are patents forother devices which accomplish solely vaporization, all of these patentsdiffer in engineering and appearance as well as material and functionalproperties.

The problem which this invention addresses is the lack of goodtechnology in the industry for simple effective vaporizing/atomizing ofessential oils and other solid or liquid substances. All technology todate either employs glass vials which must be screwed into an adaptorand heated up to vaporization temperature, which does not allowcontinuous use as the users must wait for each to cool down after usebefore replacing this one used individual glass vial; limiting theefficiency with which the essential oils can be vaporized/atomized.

Another prior art invention relating to this product is a titanium“nail” which is designed to heat up like this product however itrequires separate glass adaptors to fit different size water vessels.Such products also require an adaptor, called a “glass dome/oilglobe/vapor globe,” which must be removed in order to heat the titaniumpart and again placed on top of another glass adaptor, with the titanium“nail” in-between, in order to use essential oils.

This prior art titanium “nail” has a flat surface on which the essentialoils are placed and vaporized. The vapors must then be directed aroundthe outside of the titanium nail by the glass adaptors and funned downinto the correctly sized water vessel.

A need exists for an efficient and revolutionary vaporizer with aself-contained “domeless” function which streamlines and simplifies theprocess. Users of such a “domeless” device would continue to heat thetitanium nail portion and enjoy essential oils without having toremove/replace or unscrew any glass adapters or holders. The user alsowould enjoy the added ease of not having a “dome” to remove, to heat andthen replace.

Other vaporizers use the same type phase change as theatomizer/vaporizer described herein, although other prior art inventionsare all limited to vaporizing certain and specific materials. Throughexhibiting different processes as well as separate structuralengineering, this invention has distinct technology and is able toatomize/vaporize a greater variety of material. Examples of these otherdevices include:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,982 to Reed, Jr., Oct. 2, 2001    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,301 to Pate, Jun. 26, 2001    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,153 to Kessler, et al., Aug. 1, 2000    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,083 to Burruss, Jr., Dec. 1, 1981    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,771 to Love, Jan. 25, 2005

Though other patents accomplish vaporization, the manufacturing process,designs, as well as functional properties are far from equivalent tothis invention.

This invention allows user to enjoy aromatherapy and the vaporization ofessential oils without any additional containers, top adaptors orcatchments systems which all other systems require, while maintaining amost efficient center column for the vapors to travel through. Thisproduct is simply heated and the particulates or essential oils areapplied or entered from the top open environment for use. Thissimplifies the entire process for aromatherapy and theatomization/vaporization of particulates or essential oils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention uses a funned shape titanium top bowl to increaseefficiency, allowing for the quickest vaporization of essential oilsthough a very high surface area along with a deep catchment basin,allowing it to hold a greater quantity of essential oils at once thenany other product. This mechanism catches the vapors from inside the toptitanium bowl and pulls them though the center titanium columneliminating the need for outer glass adaptors to trap and direct thevapors into the user's desired glass vessel. Also, the titanium “nail”of this invention has a shaft which is threaded into a ceramic adaptorwhich serves as a heat sink, allowing the users to continually heat thetop of the product without the bottom ceramic adaptor getting too hot tobe held in a glass vessel of choice. Due to the recessed angledextrusions on the ceramic adapter, it fits all produced glass vessels at14/18 mm sizes, such as glass water pipe inlets.

The solid grade 2 titanium construction of the “nail” portion of thisinvention in its preferred form, allows for even distributed heat whichprovides faster heating then glass and is more efficient in thevaporization process. The user can change the desired temperature,accommodating a wide rage of possible vaporization needs. With all otherproducts on the market requiring many other adaptors and parts tofunction, this part can work alone or with a ceramic heat sink to makeit adaptable for many more applications.

The invention works by heating up the top material which is preferablymade of, but not limited to, grade 2 titanium. Grade 2 titanium isselected as the main material for use due to its beneficial materialproperties of high melting point (3*10^3 degrees F.), low thermalexpansion (5 microstrain/degrees F) and low specific heat (0.13BTU/Lb*F). Titanium has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion andhigh melting point is extremely beneficial for use because the part canbe heated to over 1000 degrees F., and with a low thermal expansion itcan be threaded into a ceramic part made of Alumina without overexpanding or cracking the ceramic part due to internal stress. This isalso due to Alumina's beneficial material properties with a highermelting point then titanium of (3.8*10^3 F) and a thermal expansionsimilar to that of titanium at (4.5 microstrain/degrees F.). Grade 2titanium is also chosen due to its purity and health benefits. Titanium(especially grade 2) does not emit or exhaust any harmful gasses orelements when heated, as do many steels, brasses and coppers, and isconsidered commercially pure. This makes titanium a good choice for usein vaporization.

The titanium part is preferably made up of two separate machined partswhich are joined together into one final part. The top portion of thetitanium part is shaped in a bowl shape with thin walls and bottom toallow for quick heating and cooling cycles. Having a thinner thicknessof material allows this top part, where the essential oils are applied,to be heated faster and cooled quicker. The bowl shape of this productversus many other designs, which either implement glass tubes or flatsurfaces, combines and improves upon preexisting technology. This bowldesign allows users the ease of a tube design in allowing this productto be used and implemented at any angle due to the sidewall supportwhich allows use without the essential oils falling out of the unit oroff of the hot vaporization surface. Yet also the grade 2 titaniummaterial heats up much faster then any glass would due to its metalcharacteristics heating much more quickly and efficiently.

The angled top bowl is also more efficient then other designs due to itslarge surface area created by the catchment basin along with the angledsidewalls. When the top is heated and the essential oils areapplied/introduced into the bowl for vaporization, it can run down theentire sidewall vaporizing all the way down as well as in the bottomcatchment basin. This is a significant improvement over other titaniumnail technology which only implements flat surfaces for the vaporizationof essential oils.

The second part of the invention which is fixed to the titanium top bowlis the titanium column/shaft. The titanium shaft is also made of but notlimited to grade 2 titanium. This shaft fixtures up into the inside ofthe top bowl to allow for an interfering of the two parts, creating a“basin” on the bottom of the top bowl. On the bottom of the top bowl iswhere these two parts are fixed together or laser welded or otherwisebonded or fastened, conjoining them as one part. On the center column,there are a few different designs which have been implemented, thebenefits of which will be described below. On the first design astraight column is used with a center hole for the vapors to travelthrough. This is done so that the center column can remain hot and allowthe vapors not to re-condense as they traveled down the center columnand out of the part. The bottom of this center column on previousdesigns has been an angled design to allow it to fit into differentwater pipes or other vapor handling devices. Other designs haveimplemented threading down the center column on the outside to bothfunction as heat fins to cool the overall unit and transfer less heat tothe bottom of the unit while also allowing users to screw their partinto and out of the ceramic adaptor which allows users to use theproduct at any height while also making it easier to take apart forcleaning or travel. This adjustable height is very important as itallows users to both raise the top titanium bowl when they wish to usethe product or thread it down for compact and easy transportation. Also,knurling has been implemented on the top of the center column before thetop bowl to allow users easier grip in screwing the titanium part intoand out of the ceramic holder/adaptor. The top of the titanium columnthat fits into the top bowl has slits or angled cuts in the column.These cuts allow for increased airflow and turbulence into the column toimprove the overall function of the product.

The ceramic adaptor is currently produced from Alumina but is notlimited to this material. This is a beneficial material to use as itacts as a heat sink with the titanium screwed into it, stopping most ofthe heat which is in the titanium from traveling or shocking the glassof the water pipe inlet or other vapor handling device which thisproduct can sit in. The other purpose of producing these ceramic partsis to allow this titanium vaporizer to fit in a variety of water pipes.Currently there are four different size water pipe adaptors which arecommonly produced and sold in the U.S. In having two well designedceramic adaptors, this one titanium part can fit universally into nearlyevery water pipe produced. Many other products that are offered only fitone type of water pipe, so an individual must buy at least four separateproducts to enjoy aromatherapy and vaporization.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide adevice for conveniently vaporizing solid or liquid materials into avapor for subsequent inhalation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer for aninlet of a water pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe inletvaporizer structure which is easy to handle and which effectivelycontains a material to be vaporized before it is drawn into the waterpipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer foruse in generating gases for subsequent inhalation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizerassembly for a water pipe inlet which has a high rate of heat transfervaporizer sub-assembly adjustably attachable to a support adapter, tocontrol an amount of physical contact between the sub-assembly and theadapter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method foradjusting a position of a vaporizer element relative to a vaporizerholder, to control a position of the vaporizer element relative to awater pipe inlet or other inlet into an inhalation structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method forvaporization of a substance and optionally induction of the vaporizedsubstance into downstream inhalation equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective,portable, easy to use material atomizer/vaporizer for the home andpersonal markets.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify the home andpersonal atomization/vaporization market while consistently producinglong lasting and efficient results.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an extremelysimple and easy to use product that would take no more than one use ifnot just a few minutes to master the home atomization/vaporizationprocess.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify theatomization/vaporization process to reduce the previous risks to usersthat were an issue with all previous designs of home vaporizers that arecomplex and difficult to understand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product to everyindividual no matter the individual's level of ability: physical, mentaland economic. The goal in this is to bridge the gap between a complexprocess and ease of use to promote understanding.

Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent froma careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims anddetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a vaporizer assembly including ahigh rate of heat transfer sub-assembly referred to as a “nail” and alow rate of heat transfer assembly referred to as an “adapter” and withportions of an inlet of a water pipe shown in broken lines to illustrateone use of the vaporizer assembly according to a first embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 1 andwith the nail portion adjustably moved relative to the adapter portionof the vaporizer assembly.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a slightly modified embodiment ofthat which is shown in FIG. 1 and with the nail shown in a collapsedposition relative to the adapter.

FIG. 4 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment vaporizerassembly according to this invention.

FIG. 6 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 5, butwith the nail portion shown in a lowered position relative to an adapterportion.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bowl portion of the nail of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 8 is a lower perspective view of that which is shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a shaft portion of the nail of thevaporizer assembly of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view from below of that which is shown in FIG.11.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the adapter of the vaporizer assemblyof FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view from below of that which is shown in FIG.15.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of that which is showing FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of a second alternative vaporizerassembly according to this invention and shown attached to a water pipeinlet tube shown in broken lines.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an adapter of the vaporizer assembly ofFIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a top plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the nail portion of the secondalternative vaporizer assembly of FIG. 19.

FIG. 25 is a bottom plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 24,taken along lines 27-27 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 24,taken along lines 28-28 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 24.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals representlike parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10is directed to a vaporizer assembly (FIGS. 1-4). The vaporizer assembly10 can be fitted into a pipe inlet tube T of a water pipe for supply ofvapors into a water pipe, or can be otherwise used, such as merelyresting upon a horizontal surface, to vaporize a solid or liquidsubstance into gaseous vapors suitable for inhalation.

Solid or liquid substances to be vaporized are inserted into a highlyheated basin portion at an upper end of the vaporizer assembly 10 (alongarrow A of FIGS. 1 and 2). An upper portion of the vaporizer assembly isprovided by a high rate of heat transfer sub-assembly referred to as a“nail” and which is preferably formed of a titanium alloy. This nail 20is heated to a sufficiently high temperature that contact with surfacesof the basin will result in vaporization of the material. Vapors arethen drawn, along arrow B of FIG. 2, down into a hollow bore 45 of thenail 20. This passage of vapors continues on down through an adapter 50by way of a hollow core 60 (along arrow C of FIGS. 1 and 2), beforeoptionally passing into the pipe inlet tube T of a water pipe or intosome other apparatus which utilizes vapors.

In essence, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1-4, basic details ofthe vaporizer assembly 10 are described, according to this firstexemplary embodiment. The vaporizer assembly 10 generally includes twoparts including a high rate of heat transfer sub-assembly and a low rateof heat transfer sub-assembly. The high rate of heat transfersub-assembly is referred to as a nail 20 in that it is somewhatnail-like in appearance with a bowl 30 defining a head portion and ashaft 40 extending downward from the bowl 30. The shaft 40 includes abore 45 passing therethrough such that the shaft 40 is hollow.

The adapter 50 includes a hollow core 60 which can receive the shaft 40therein. Preferably, the shaft 40 is threaded along with the hollow core60, in a complementary fashion, such that rotation of the nail 20 (alongarrow D of FIGS. 1 and 2) causes adjustment of a position of the nail 20up and down (along arrow E of FIG. 20) relative to the adapter 50. A rim70 preferably extends up from an upper body of the adapter 50 to providea portion of the adapter 50 which can be held (at least indirectly) by auser and which can be less hot as it defines a portion of the adapter 50more distant from areas where the nail 20 comes into contact with theadapter 50. FIG. 2 shows a threaded collar 80 inboard of the rim 70which is threaded complementally with threads on the shaft 40. As aslight alternative, FIG. 4 depicts a variation where the entire hollowcore 60 is threaded with inner threads 62, rather than providing aseparate threaded collar 80 (FIG. 2).

More specifically, and with continuing reference to FIGS. 1-4 and 7-18,specific details of the vaporizer assembly 10 are described defining oneform of an element for vaporizing a non-gas substance, according to thisfirst exemplary embodiment. The nail 20 sub-assembly is preferablyentirely formed of a titanium alloy. Most preferably, the basin portiondefined by the bowl 30 is formed separately from the shaft 40 and thetwo are press fit together. Alternatively, the bowl 30 could thread ontothe shaft 40 with complementary threads provided on portions of the bowl30 and the shaft 40 for this purpose. As another alternative, the bowl30 and shaft 40 could be formed together as an integral unit.Preferably, contact between the bowl 30 and shaft 40 is sufficient tofacilitate conduction heat transfer between the bowl 30 and shaft 40such that they maintain a similar temperature. By forming the nail 20 ofa titanium alloy, the nail 20 can be heated to exceptionally hightemperatures, even approaching or exceeding 3,000° F., for effectivevaporization of a variety of different substances.

The bowl 30 is preferably an open topped enclosure including asubstantially planar floor 34 with side walls extending up to a lip 32.The hole 36 is formed in the floor 34, preferably near a midpointthereof, and which floor preferably has a circular form. The shaft 40can thus extend up through this hole 34 and preferably extends up intothe bowl 30 somewhat, but below the lip 32 and above the floor 34. Thebowl 30 preferably has side walls which taper slightly so that the lip32 is circular in form and wider than the floor 34. The opening inboardof the lip 32 defines an entrance into the bowl 30 into which substancesto be vaporized can be placed (such as along arrow A of FIGS. 1 and 2).

The shaft 40 is an elongate rigid structure extending from an upper tip42 to a lower tip 48. A bore 45 passes from the upper tip 42 to thelower tip 48 to provide a hollow vapor input path from the bowl 30.Preferably, a knurled band 44 is provided on a portion of the shaft 40closer to the upper tip 42 than to the lower tip 48, and configured justbelow where the shaft 40 passes through the hole 36 in the bowl 30. Theknurled band 44 defines a portion of the shaft 40 which can be securelygripped by a user, such as to facilitate rotation (about arrow D ofFIGS. 1 and 2) to adjust a height of the nail 20 relative to the adapter50 (along arrow E of FIGS. 1 and 2). Such height adjustment can alterthe rate at which the nail 20 portion cools, adjusting vaporizer 10performance.

The shaft 40 has outer threads 46 provided on portion of the shaft 40below the knurled band 44. These outer threads 46 are complemental withthreads which are either on the adapter 50 itself or fixed relative tothe adapter 50, such that rotation of the nail 20 (about arrow D ofFIGS. 1 and 2) causes movement toward and away from the adapter 50(along arrow E of FIGS. 1 and 2). In one embodiment, these outer threads46 are acme threads. The outer threads 46 can be sized with sufficientclearance so that even when significant temperature changes are beingcountered by the shaft 40, sufficient tolerance is still provided forready rotation of the nail 20 and associated shaft 40 relative to theadapter 50.

While the threads 46 provide part of a preferred form of a means toadjust position of the nail 20 relative to the adapter 50, otherposition adjustment means could alternatively be provided. For instance,a clamp could releasably grasp the shaft 40 at a desired height, insertscould be intermediately placed in various sizes or numbers to space thenail 20 a desired distance from the adapter 50. The adapter could beprovided with nail rests which could be adjustably placed where desiredto control a position of the nail 20 relative to the adapter 50.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-4, details of the adapter 50 aredescribed, providing a holder for the shaft 40 of the nail 20 accordingto this first exemplary embodiment. The adapter 50 is preferably a rigidmonolithic structure formed of a lower rate of heat transfer materialthan that from which the nail 20 is formed. In a preferred embodimentthis material is a ceramic material, such as an aluminum oxide ceramicmaterial. The adapter 50 generally includes an upper body 52 and a lowerbody 54. A step 56 preferably is provided between the upper body 52 andthe lower body 54. The lower body 54 is sized to fit within an end of apipe inlet tube T (FIG. 1) and the upper body 52 typically is sizedlarger than a diameter of the pipe inlet tube T, such that the adapter50 can have the lower body 54 fit into the pipe inlet tube T, but theupper body 52 is sized large enough to keep the adapter 50 fromextending too far into the pipe inlet tube T.

A hollow core 60 in the form of a through bore passes vertically througha center of the adapter 50. This hollow core 60 is sized to allow theshaft 40 of the nail 20 to pass therethrough. In one variation (FIGS. 3and 4) inner threads 62 are provided on this hollow core 60 which aresized to coact with the outer threads 46 on the shaft 40 of the nail 20.As an alternative, a threaded collar 80 can be provided within the upperbody 52 which has threads therein to coact with the outer threads 46 inthe shaft 40.

With either variation, the upper body 52 preferably features a rim 70extending upwardly from the upper body 52 and with slits 72 extendingvertically through the trim 70. The rim 70 defines a portion of theupper body 52 of the adapter 50 which is a significant distance fromlocations where the adapter 50 is in contact with the nail 20, forconduction heat transfer. Because the adapter 50 is formed of a materialwith a relatively low rate of heat transfer, and with slits 72 in therim 70, upper portions of the rim 70 will tend to be a significantlylower temperature than other portions of the adapter 50 and relative toa temperature of the nail 20. In some instances, a user might be able todirectly hold the adapter 50 at this rim 70 portion. In other instances,a user with relatively lightweight gloves or other limited additionalthermal insulation can readily handle the adapter 50 through the rim 70,even when the nail 20 is exceptionally hot. A gap 74 inboard of the rim70 helps to isolate the rim 70 from portions of the adapter 50 which arein direct contact with the nail 20, to thus further insulate the rim 70from temperatures associated with the nail 20.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, details of an alternativevaporizer assembly 110 are described. With this alternative vaporizerassembly 110, the adapter 150 does not include threads directly thereon.Rather, a recess 180 is provided into which a nut 190 can be located.This nut 190 has an outer surface 192 which fits within the recess 180,so that the nut 190 can be wedged (or merely rest) into the recess 180and resting upon a ledge 182 defining a bottom of the recess 180.

The nut 190 includes an inside threaded hole 194 which is sized to coactwith the outer threads of the nail 120. The nail 120 is similar to thenail 20 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, with a bowl 130 at an upper endand a shaft 140 extending down from the bowl 130, and with a bore 145within the shaft 140. Threads on an outer surface of the shaft 140 coactwith the inside threaded hole 194 of the nut 190 which is secured to (orresting within) the adapter 150. The adapter 150 includes a hollow core160 to accommodate the shaft 140 and with a rim 170 extending upward todefine upper portions of the adapter 150, and with a gap 174 inboard ofthe rim 170.

With the alternative vaporizer assembly 110, it is not required thatthreads be formed in the material forming the adapter 150. Furthermore,if the nut 19 is formed of a titanium alloy similar to the materialforming the nail 120, various differences in materials which might alterperformance can be avoided, such as differing rates of thermalexpansion, so that a smooth threading interface can be maintained at avariety of different temperatures. The nut 190 would typically have anouter surface 192 which is knurled or otherwise roughened so that ittends to engage the surfaces of the recess 180 within the adapter 150.As an alternative, the recess 180 and outer surface 192 of the nut 190can be somehow keyed or faceted in a complementary fashion to preventrelative rotation therebetween. As a further alternative, some form ofadhesive or other bonding agent could be utilized to secure the nut 190within the adapter 150.

In one use mode, the nail 120 is height adjusted while in the adapter150 by rotation. In another use mode, the nail 120 is removed from theadapter 150 and the nut 190 is rotated to a desired position and thenthe nail 120 and nut 190 are replaced into the adapter 150.

With particular reference to FIGS. 19-29, details of a secondalternative vaporizer assembly 210 are described. With this secondalternative vaporizer assembly 210, an alternative nail 220 is providedwith a bowl 230 at an upper end and a shaft 240 extending down from thebowl 230. An adapter 250 is provided to support the nail 220. Thisadapter 250 features a hollow core 260 with a rim 270 extending upwardto define upper portions of the adapter 250. A threaded collar 280 isprovided within the adapter 250 which is threaded to coact with threadson the shaft 240 of the nail 220.

Uniquely with this second alternative vaporizer assembly, the shaft 240preferably includes a covered upper tip 242. Slots in a side of theshaft 240 just below the upper tip allow for vapors to be drawn into thehollow bore of this shaft 240. Such a covered upper tip 242 can preventmaterial from falling down into the bore in the shaft 240 potentiallywithout having sufficient time for the material to vaporize. The bore245 can also include a barrier with port holes 244 therein to furtherinsure that material does not fall through the bore 245 without becomingvaporized. FIGS. 27 and 28 are similar to each other but show the nail220 portion at different radially opposed orientations to illustrate thevarious slots and holes which are only visible in certain sectionalviews in this particular embodiment.

Annular fins 246 are also optionally shown extending radially from theshaft 240 of the nail 220. These annular fins 246 could be provided onany of the nail embodiments such as the nail 20 (FIGS. 1-4) and the nail120 (FIGS. 5 and 6). These annular fins 246 potentially increase surfacearea on the nail 220 for more rapid heating and cooling of the nail 220.Also, such annular fins 246 allow the nail 220 to be more readilydirectly handled with less thermal protection.

The adapter 250 is configured to include an outer skirt 290 which tapersto a wider form at a lower end thereof opposite to a configuration ofthe adapter 50 (FIGS. 1-4). This outer skirt 290 is sufficiently wide sothat it can rest over an outer portion of a pipe inlet tube T (FIG. 19)so that the adapter 250 overlies the pipe inlet tube T, rather thanfitting inside the pipe inlet tube T as with the adapter 50 (FIG. 1).The outer skirt 290 could optionally rest upon a horizontal surface ifthe vaporizer assembly 210 is not coupled to a water pipe or otherdownstream equipment. Furthermore, the rim 270 features a lobe 272 whichcan facilitate the adapter 250 being more readily held by a user's hand,or by some other holding mechanism upon which this lobe 272 can rest.

The various different unique features of the alternative embodiments forthe vaporizer assembly 10, 110, 210 can be individually included in thevarious other alternative embodiments of this invention disclosedherein.

In use and operation, a user will initially remove the nail 20 from theadapter 50 and place the nail 20 adjacent to a heat source. The nail 20is heated, typically until the material from which the nail 20 is formedis glowing red (or other colors generally indicative of the degree ofheating of the nail 20). If desired, the nail 20 can remain within theadapter 50 during this heating process with heat directed to the bowl 30portion of the nail 20 and allowed to transfer through conduction heattransfer to other portions of the nail 20.

A material to be vaporized is then placed within the bowl 30. Thismaterial can be solid or liquid. When the material to be vaporized comesinto contact with surfaces of the nail 20, the extreme temperaturedifferential causes rapid phase change of the material into a gaseousvapor. In some instances the material undergoes some degree of chemicalreaction, such as an oxidation reaction or other reaction which isdriven by the high temperature which the material attains, as well asthe material's contact with oxygen or other elements in the air, orother substances which might be present (e.g. water). In otherinstances, the material is merely heated so that it undergoes a phasechange from solid or liquid into gaseous. The resultant vapor is in thegenerally proximity of the bowl 30. Through suction forces down throughthe pipe inlet tube T, these vapors are drawn through the bore 45 andthe shaft 40 of the nail 20 and down into the pipe inlet tube T (arrowsB and C). If the vaporizer assembly 10 is utilized merely resting upon ahorizontal surface, the vapors merely emanate out of the bowl 30 into asurrounding environment.

While a pipe inlet tube T is shown such as might be provided on a waterpipe, a respirator, nebulizer, or other device for supporting thedelivery of vapors to a user for inhalation, might be utilized alongwith the vaporizer assembly 10 of this invention, as well as thevaporizer assemblies 110, 210 of alternative embodiments. The nail 20can be rotated relative to the adapter 50 to provide a desired degree ofnesting between the nail 20 and adapter 50. Such adjustment might beprovided to alter a rate at which the nail 20 cools, or to change thedistance through the overall assembly 10. In one embodiment with thealternate vaporizer assembly 110, the nut 190 is first adjusted into adesired position on the shaft 140 in advance of heating. When the nail120 has been heated the nail 120 can be dropped into the adapter 140 andwill drop into a desired distance when the nut 190 drops into the recess180. In such an embodiment position adjustment occurs by rotating of thenut 190 upon the shaft 140 until it is at a desired position, ratherthan rotating the nail 120 after it has been nested into the adapter150.

This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of theinvention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thusdescribed the invention in this way, it should be apparent that variousdifferent modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. Whenstructures are identified as a means to perform a function, theidentification is intended to include all structures which can performthe function specified. When structures of this invention are identifiedas being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadlyto include the structures being coupled directly together or coupledtogether through intervening structures. Such coupling could bepermanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashionwhich allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while stillproviding some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for vaporizing a substance anddelivering the vaporized substance into a water pipe, including thesteps of: identifying a water pipe inlet tube having a hollow interiorextending along a centerline; fitting a vaporizer assembly to the waterpipe inlet with the vaporizer assembly supported by the water pipeinlet; wherein said fitting step includes the vaporizer assembly havingan elongate shaft and a bowl, the shaft and the bowl affixed together;wherein said fitting step further includes said shaft having a hollowbore extending from a lower tip of the shaft to an upper tip of theshaft, the upper tip open into an interior of the bowl; wherein saidfitting step further includes the bowl having a domeless open upper endopposite a floor, with walls extending from the floor to a lip at theopen upper end, the floor open adjacent the shaft; heating the vaporizerassembly to a vaporizing temperature; placing the substance within thebowl for vaporization; drawing the vaporized substance into the waterpipe inlet tube through the shaft of the vaporizer assembly; interposingan adapter between the vaporizer assembly and the water pipe inlet, theadapter having a hollow core extending therethrough; placing the shaftportion of the vaporizer assembly into the hollow core of the adapter;attaching the vaporizer assembly to the adapter in a removable fashion;wherein said attaching step includes the adapter having threads thereonand the vaporizer assembly having threads thereon, the threads on theadapter complemental with the threads on the vaporizer assembly forthreading attachment of the vaporizer assembly to the adapter; adjustinga height of the vaporizer assembly relative to the adapter by rotatingthe vaporizing assembly relative to the adapter; and said adjusting stepadjustably modifying a rate of cooling of the vaporizer assembly.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said attaching step includes the vaporizerassembly having male threads on the shaft and the adapter having femalethreads within the hollow core, with the male threads complemental withthe female threads for threading attachment of the vaporizer assembly tothe adapter.